ALL IS SET FOR IMO GUBER ELECTION

 REPORTER: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

All is now set for the conduct of the off-cycle governorship election taking place in Imo state today, Saturday November 11.

In keeping with the electoral guidelines, canvassing of votes of any kind has come to an end since Thursday, thereby setting the state in an election mood.

Seventeen political parties are jostling for the number one position in the state, including the incumbent Governor, Chief Hope Uzodimma who is seeking a second term.

Nine INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners are on ground to assist their counterpart in Imo State, Professor Sylvia Agu, to drive the process while the National Commissioner in charge of South East, Mr. Kenneth Ukeagu, is representing the Chairman of the Commission.

If all the registered voters that collected their permanent voters cards come out to exercise their franchise, then more than two point three million persons are expected to cast their votes across the twenty seven local government areas of Imo state.

INEC has reassured residents that voting will take place in all the four thousand seven hundred and twenty polling units in Imo State.

Security agencies have made massive deployments of their personnel especially in high risk areas to ensure that no one is disenfranchised.

Owerri, the state capital, already looks scanty with significant reduction in vehicular traffic, apparently because many might have either travelled to places where they registered to beat the deadline for restriction of movement, which took effect by midnight on Friday.  

Radio Nigeria correspondents who are on ground monitoring the election will be bringing updates on the conduct of the election across the three senatorial districts of the state.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU